Harbor Freight Circular Saw Blade Sharpener Mod

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Bill

A while ago I purchased the Chicago Electric Power Tools Professional Series 9 Amp Circular Saw Blade Sharpener from Harbor Freight.  I did not think that I would be able to get the professional results I got when I sent away my saw blades to be sharpened, however I did believe I could touch up the blades after a cleaning and stretch out the life of them.  After all, getting them professionally sharpened costs $20 to $30 per blade, depending on the number of teeth.  Sending in a half dozen blades would typically cost about $150.

Harbor Freight Saw Blade Sharpener

Continue reading →

Posted in Tools and Machinery, Woodworking, Work Shop | Leave a comment

Potato Shaker / Soil Sifter

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Bill

Last year I made a sifter for sifting compost.  It’s just some 2×4’s screwed together with a piece of 1/2″ hardware cloth stapled to one side.  The rectangle is 35 x 27, with the two shorter sides of the rectangle extended so that it can sit on our dump trailer or gorilla wagon.  This is just a little smaller than the gorilla wagon opening.

Sifter

Sifter

Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Homestead, Shop Tips, Tools and Machinery | Leave a comment

Lost Dog, again.

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Marisa

Husky, Taz, has purple bo bo in his mouth looking through glass door wanting to come out.

Sam met Taz at work and it was love at first site. Since work romances can get awkward Sam decided to adopt Taz. Taz was so named because of the collar he was wearing when he was found wandering the streets. We are currently fostering him and let’s just say that the first week was not easy. Continue reading →

Posted in Homestead | Leave a comment

Microwave Surround

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Marisa

When taking the plunge to remodel our kitchen we had to decide where the microwave would live.  We have had them over the stove, in an upper cabinet next to the stove, on the counter and now built into a lower cabinet.

Microwave Surround

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Safety In All Things Great and Small

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Marisa

Use a power strip with a light plugged in to remind you that some device that might be unsafe if left on is on.

A few years ago I stumbled on a blogger who I enjoyed a great deal. She hasn’t blogged since 2015, which makes me sad, but just the other day I was reminded about how we touch each others lives.
Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

It’s not just a pen it’s art

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Marisa

The process of turning seems like it could be simple.  You take a blank and you pick out a kit.  Put the blank on the lathe and turn it put in the inserts and there you have it a pen.  I’ve learned it’s very personnel to the individual receiving that pen maybe even more so to the person creating that pen.

Continue reading →

Posted in Wood Turning | Leave a comment

Sawmill Sawdust Control

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Marisa

Man Glitter.Sawdust from cutting one log under the sawmill.

Continue reading →

Posted in Saw Milling | Leave a comment

End Grain Walnut Cutting Board

Posted on September 2, 2023 by Bill

I have another cutting board to make.  I would have liked to make it out of maple, but I do not have any maple milled.  But I do still have a lot of walnut.  This time I want to make an end grain board.  Here are the steps I took to make it.

First, I cut 1 1/2 inch strips, 26 inches long.  I then jointed and planed them all to the same thickness and width so that I had square strips.

Walnut Strips

Walnut Strips

Continue reading →

Posted in Woodworking | Leave a comment

Cutting Board Butter

Posted on September 2, 2023 by Bill

I have been making my own cutting board finish, which I like to call Cutting Board Butter, made from bee’s wax and mineral oil.  This is very easy to make.  You can order melting bee’s wax pellets online.  Simply add them to a tin at a 50/50 ratio by weight and heat the tin.  A hot plate works well for this.

Homemade Butcher Block Oil

Homemade Butcher Block Oil

Once heated, stir well until well mixed, and allow to cool.  It makes a very nice paste wax.

Continue reading →

Posted in Shop Tips, Woodworking | Leave a comment

Chamfer Sanding Block + Free Plan

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Bill

I am making an end grain cutting board, and for the edge treatment, I decided to go with chamfers.  Now while the router left a nice edge, it did need sanding.  I could have just used a sanding block and hoped I kept it perfectly on the chamfer face, but seeing as this face is only about 1/4″ wide, chances were good that the edges would get knocked down or rounded.

I decided to make a sanding block for sanding the chamfer, with a flat registration face and a sanding block face set off by 45 degrees.  I mulled this over for a couple of days, and the resulting jig can be seen below.

Chamfer Sanding Block

Chamfer Sanding Block

Continue reading →

Posted in Plans, Shop Tips, Woodworking | Leave a comment